Plate-handling machine



PATENTED FEB. 23, 1904.

E. MILES. PLATE HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 13, 1902.

@SHEETS-SHEET L N0 MODEL.

w .Ng

A.. N- w Sm 5 @mi w w Nm `Wmwwao PATENTED PEB. 23, 1904.

E. MILES.

5 sums-SHEET 2.`

mmm.

amm.

PLATE HANDLING MACHINE. APPLIOA'HON FILEDv Nov. 13. 1902.

No MODEL.

me mums frans co, vnuraumo., vnsmuswn, n. c,

No. 752,915. n PATENTED PEB. 23, 1904. E. MILES.

PLATE 1IA1\1DLI1\1Gr MACHINE.

APPLIG-ATION FILED NOV. 13, 1902. Y

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

No. 752,915. 'PATENTEE EEB. 2s, 1904. E. MILES.

PLATE HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.13, 1902.

H0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS--SHBBT 4.

u N S n E fof A) h -1 Qa z #fr VM `91 31 73 I A TH: norms :Iz-rens ou; PHm'oumo wnsmunron. n. c.

No. 752,915. PATENTED FEB. 23, 1904. E. MILES. PLATE HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIONTILED NOV. 13, 1902.

VN0 MODEL! 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5` .Tuc nofws Perses co., Pwormuma., w-sumsJ-om n. c.

UNITED STA-TESI Patented February 23, 1904.

`Pnfrinvr OFFICE.

EDMUND MILES, OF CAMBRIDGE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO S. L. SELLECK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

PLATE-HANDLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0- '752,915, dated February 23, 1904.

Application tiled November 1B. 1902. Serial No. ILZZZ. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND MILES, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Guernsey and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Plate-Handling Machine, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in plate-handling machines for rolling-mills, and is a further development along the line of my two copending applications, Serial Nos. 7 6,487 and 131,221, for Letters Patent.

In my application Serial No. 7 6,487 is illust-rated a plate-handling machine comprising a single plate-handling member which is designed to facilitate the repassage of the plate through a pass of the millother than that from which the plate is initially received. This plate-receiving member is equipped with a series of feed-rollers capable of being driven in opposite directions, and the movements of the member and of the rollers thereof are automaticallyV controlled, so that -the transfer of a plate or other billet from one pass of the mill to another and its repassage through the mill will be accomplished bythe machine without necessity for any attention `whatever on the part of an operator.

In my second application is disclosed a machine of similar character, including two platereceiving members instead of one. These members are located at opposite sides of the stand of mill-rolls and aredriven from separate sources of power. The movements of the two members and of the feed-rollers carried by each of them are controlled by controlling mechanism common to both members and both series of rollers, so that the two series of feed-rollers will be operated simultaneously and in the same direction to cause the transfer of a plate from one to the other through a pass of the mill, after which the members will be simultaneously moved to present them opposite another pass preparatory tothe repassage of the plate for further rolling.

The present invention has for its Vobject to further develop the art by utilizing a single source of power for the operation of both of tion of the` complete machine.

duced A further object of the invention is to provide automatically-operated truing mechanism for truing the plate or billet to insure its proper presentation to the passes of the mill. l

Other objects subordinate to those enumerated will appear yduring the succeeding description of that embodiment of the invention which for the purpose of this disclosure is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

In said drawings,-Figure 1 is a side eleva- Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section ou the line 8 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. is a sectional elevation on the line et l of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.' Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of one of the electromagnetic clutches, the shaft and gear-wheel being shown in elevation. Fig. 7 is adetail perspective view of a portion of the plate-truing mechanism; and Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 are diagrammaticviews showing the wiring of the machinathe closed circuits being indicated by black lines.

Lilie characters of reference are employed to designate correspondingl parts throughout the several views. j

1 indicates the housing of a stand of millrolls 2, 3, and l, driven continuously by power applied in any suitable manner. From this housing extend in opposite directions rails or guides 5 and 6, which support the plate-handling mechanisms .located at opposite sides of of the mill-stand and capable of bodily movemen-t toward and away from the rolls to facilitateA such reorganization of the apparatus as may be necessary.

The frames 7 and 8 each consists of vertical side walls 9 and 10 and suitable transverse connections and are designed for the support of plate-receiving members. These plate-rethe plate-receiving members.

ceiving members, mounted in the frames 7 and 8 at opposite sides of the mill-stand, constitute the primary elements of the plate-handling apparatus and are preferably in the form of tongs 11 and 12, comprehending upper and lower members 13 and 14. The members of each tong have a common pivotal support upon a horizontal shaft 15 and are urged together-as, for instance, by a spring 16" bearing at one end against the under side of the rearwardly-extending tailpiece 17 of the upper tong member 13 and at its opposite en d against the head 18 of a stem 19, projecting from the opposed tailpiece 2O of the lower tong member 14. These springs serve to urge the jaws or members of the tongs together for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

Each tong or plate receiving member is equipped with upper and lower series of rollers 21 and 22, journaled in the opposite sides of the members 13 and 14. The plate or billet when supported by either of the members 11 or 12 is disposed between the upper or lower series of rollers thereof and is gripped with more or less pressure, so that when the lower series of rollers 22 are driven by mechanism to be described the plate will be positively fed in the proper direction, according to the direction of rotation of the rollers.

As premised, the plate-receiving members or tongs at opposite sides of the rolls are designed to effect the passing and repassing of the billet through the mill, and as the passes of the latterare located at dierent elevations it is necessary to provide means for raising and lowering the tongs. Adjacent to the inner ends of the frames 7 and 8 and somewhat nearer the bottom thereof are journaled eccentric-shafts 23 and 24,7each of which is equipped with a pair of eccentrics 25, fitted in suitable openings in the depending sides of Beyond one side of the machine the shafts 23 and 24 are equipped with worm-gears 26 and 27, meshing with oppositely active worms 28 and 29,

- carried by a worm-shaft 30, journaled in suitable bearings 31, secured in the frame, said shaft being preferably composed of two sections 32 and 33, connected by a coupling 34. The eccentric-shafts are designed to be operated from the shaft 30 through the worm and gear connections and are intended to shift the eccentrics 25 from the positions shown in Fig. 3 to those shown in Fig'. 4 for the purpose of elevating the tongs and of restoring the eccentrics to their normal positions to return the tongs. It will be noted in this connection that the tongs or members 11 and 12 are vmoved in curvilinear paths, which will permit them to approach quite close to the opposite sides of the mill-passes and to clear the intermediate mill-roll as they move from one pass to another. Thelateral movement of the shafts 15 necessitated by this bodily curvilinear movement of the members is accommodated by open-ended slots 35, formed in the side walls of the frames 7 and 8 and slidably receiving journal-boxes 36, which afford bearings for the tong-shafts.

The machine-shaft 30, so called because it operates the primary elements of the platehandling machine, is driven from a motor-shaft 37, operated, preferably, by an electric'motor 38 (see Fig. 1) and provided with a beveled gear 39, meshing with a similar gear 40 upon the upper end of a short vertically-disposed counter-shaft 41, journaled in suitable bearings on one side of the frame 7. Upon its lower end the shaft 40 is provided with a beveled gear 42, meshing with a pair of opposed beveled gears 43 and 44, mounted to rotate loosely on the machine-shaft 4() and designed to be operatively connected therewith by electromagnetic machine-clutches 45 and 46. It will be observed that by reasonof the opposite disposition of the gears 43 and 44 the machine-shaft may be operated in either direction from the motor-shaft, operated continuously in the same direction by simply operating the proper clutch to throw one or the other of the gears 43 and 44 into engagement with the shaft 30.Y Thus if the clutch 45 is thrown in the worms 28 and 29 will be rotated in a proper direction to effect the elevation of the tongs or plate-receiving membersll and 12, while the throwing in of the clutch 46 will effect the movement of the worms in a proper direction to depress or lower said members to their initial positions. Since in certain aspects of the invention the clutches 45 and 46 might be of any desired character, their specilic construction will not be described at this time.

The motor or power shaft 37 is provided at one end with a beveled gear 47, meshing with a similar gear 48 on the lower end of a vertical counter-shaft 49, provided at its upper end with a beveled gear 50, meshing with a pair of oppositely-disposed beveled gears 51 and 52, loosely mounted on what may be termed a roller-operating shaft 53, journaled in suitable bearings 54, mounted on the frame, and preferably composed of two sections 55 and 56, connected by a coupling 57. (See Fig. 1.) The roller-operating shaft 53 is designed to be rotated in either direction from the motor-shaft 37 by throwing one or IOO the other of the gears 51 and 52 into engagewheels and 61, meshing with similar beveled gears 62 and 63, keyed upon the adjacent ends of the tong-shafts 15 15. The engagement of these latter gears with the gears 60 and 61 during the lateral movement of the tongshafts l5 is maintained by fingers 64, projecting from the adjacent journalboxes 36 and engaging annular grooves in the hubsof said gears. (See Fig. 2.)

The lower series 22 of feed-rollers, with which each plate receiving member is equipped, are designed to be driven from the shafts l5. Said shafts are therefore provided with spur-pinions 65, and the trunnions of the rollers 22 are equipped with similar pinions 66, the pinions 66 being geared to each other and to the pinions by idle pinions 67, mounted on stud-shafts projecting beyond one side of each plate-receiving member. (See Fig. 4.)

It will now be seen that Athe roller-operating shaft 53 is common to the feed-rollers of both tongs or members and that the arrangement of the gearing between said shaft and the rollers is such that the rollers of both members will berotated simultaneously in the same direction whenever the shaft 53 is geared to the motor-shaft by the throwing in of one of the roller-clutches. Therefore when one of the clutches-as, for instance, the one numbered 58-is thrown in the feed-rollers at both sides of the mill-stand will be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, so that a plate or billet may be fed from the member 11 through a pass of the mill to the member 12, the feed-rollers of both members assisting in this movement of the plate. Similarly, if the clutch 59 is thrown in the shaft 53 will be rotated in the reverse direction, and the feed-rollers will be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4 to eiect the repassing of the plate from the member 12 at the rear end of the mill to the mllanber 11,' located at the front side of Ithe ro s.

Thus the machine will be seen to include operating mechanism common to both plate-receiving members and to both series of feedrollers and also machine-clutches controlling the opposite movements' of the tongs and roller-clutches controlling the rotation of the feed-rollers in opposite directions.

It is now in order to describe the means for controlling the operation of these clutches to properly time the movements of the plate-receiving members and the feed-rollers thereof as a plate is passed back and forth between the mill-rolls by the completely automatic action of the apparatus. Since the controlling mechanism is .largely electrical in consequence of the utilization of electromagnetic clutches, the specific construction of one of said clutches will first be explained, and the arrangement of the circuits and circuit-closing devices or switches will then be pointed ,may be.

out. As shown in Fig. 6, each of the magnetic clutches 45, 46, 58, and 59 comprises a disk 68, from one side of which extends a hub 69, terminating inthe case of the rollerclutches in the beveled gears 51 or 52. In the flat side face of the disk 68 opposite the hub is formed an annular recess 7G for the reception of a reel '71, upon which is wound a coil 7 2 of wire. The terminals of this coil are passed through openings 73 in the disk 68 and are electrically connected to a pair of brass rings '7 4, encircling the hub 69 and insulated therefrom by a band or collar 7 5, of fiber or other insulating material. p

Opposite each clutch member constructed as described is disposed a circular armature 7 6, Jfixed upon the shaft 30 or 58, as the case The electromagnetic attraction of the magnet and armature when the former is energized by the passage of an electric current therethrough connects the loosely-mounted clutch member to the armature and causes it, together with the gear-wheel associated therewith, to rotate with the shaft. As soon, however, as the circuit through the magnet is broken the clutch will be thrownout, and the operating-shaft will rotate independently of it. To prevent the possibility of the continued engagement of the clutch after the circuit therethrough has been broken, I interpose bei tween each disk 68 and the adjacent armature 7 6 a thin disk 77, of copper.

The above description applies, as heretofore stated, to all of the clutches, it being noted that the gear-wheels attached to the hubs of the machine-clutches are numbered 43 and 44, although they are structurally identical with the corresponding gears of the roller-clutches. The described form of clutch while preferable, perhaps, is not essential, inasmuch as the control of the machine might obviously be effected by means of other clutches or similar devices capable of being operated substantially in the manner herein described.

The lrings 7 4 constitute the annular terminals of the clutch-magnets, and the electrical connection of the circuit-wires with these terminals is elfected by metallic contact plates or brushes 78 and 79 contacting with the rings of the roller-clutches and machine-clutches, respectively. The mounting ofvthese brushes may be effected in any desirable manner; but they are preferably secured to the side walls gf the frames 7 and S and are insulated thererom.

In connection with the various clutches l employ electrical controlling mechanism including a primary controlling-switch 80, two secondary switches 81 and 82, and suitable wiring, the primary switch being designed to close the circuit through either of the secondary switches, each of which latter controls the movement of the plate-receiving members in one direction and also one direction of movement of the feed-rollers. The primary switch IOO is located at any convenient point, but preferably at one end of the apparatus. In Figs. 1 and 2 the switchboard 83 of the primary switch is shown attached to one side of the frame 7 at the front end of the apparatus and equipped with a pair of switch-contacts 84 and 85, over which is disposed to operate a swinging switch-arm 86, pivoted to the switchboard 83 and disposed vertically, with its upper end projected somewhat above the board.

Each of the secondary switches includes a long contact-plate 87 or 88 and a short contact-plate 89 or 90, the plates of each switch being arranged in a semicircle concentric with the shafts 23 and 24. These plates are mounted on the outer sides of the frames 7 and 8 and are insulated therefrom and from each other. Over the plates of each secondary switch is disposed to travel an oscillatory switch-arm 91 or 92, extending radially from the shafts 23 and 24 and movable therewith as said shafts are rotated to effect the elevation or depression of the tongs. The switcharms are insulated from the shafts and are proy vided with binding-posts 93 for the attachment of circuit-wires. Since the arms of the secondary switches are oscillated with the eccentric shafts of the tongs and since the long and short contact-plates of said switches are disposed in the same relation, it follows that when the tongs are in their completely-depressed positions the arm 91 of the switch 81 will be in contact with the short plate 89 thereof, while the arm 92 of the switch 82 will be in contact with the outer end of the long plate 88, as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore when the shafts are rotated in the opposite direction for the purpose of eecting the simultaneous elevation of the tongs the arm 91 will immediately leave the short plate 89 and pass to the long plate 87 of the switch 81, while the arm 92 will traverse the long plate of the switch 82 and will not pass to the short plate 90 thereof until the tongs have been completely raised to positions opposite the upper pass of the mill. When the shafts 23 and 24 are turned back to their initial positions, the reverse of the described operation will take place-that is to say, the arm 92 will pass from the short contact-plate to the long contact-plate of the switch 82, while the arm 91 will traverse the long plate 87 and will not contactvwith the short plate 89 of the switch 81 until the tongs are completely depressed to positions opposite the lower pass of the mill.

Having described the manner in which the secondary switches are operated, so far as the mechanical manipulation of the switch-arms is concerned, I shall now describe the manner in which the arm 86 of the primary switch 80 is shifted from one contact to the other for the purpose of closing the circuit through either of the secondary switches in a manner to be hereinafter explained. Mounted upon a suitable supporting bracket or standard 94 is a pivoted trip device or trigger 95, having its upper end disposed immediately in rear of the lower pass of the mill. (See Figs. 3 and 4.) The tailpiece- 96 of the trigger is connected to a switchoperating device in the form of a reciprocatory rod 97, disposed longitudinally of the machine in a plane below the mill-rolls and guided in suitable bearings 98. At its front end the rod 97 is provided with an upwardly-extending angular arm 99, the horizontal upper extremity 100 of which is disposed slightly in advance of and in operative proximity to the upper end of the primary switch-arm 86. Between one of the bearings 98 and a set-collar 101, mounted on the rod 97, is interposed a compression-spring 102. When a plate is fed from the front platereceiving member 11 to the rear member or catcher 12, its front edge after passing through the mill will strike the upper end of the trigger 95, swinging it to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and retaining it in this position during the passage of the plate to the rear receiving member. trigger is swung in the manner indicated, the rod 97 will be reciprocated against the resistance opposed to such movement by the spring 102, the upper end 100 of the arm 99 being thus moved to a greater distance in front of the switch-arm 86. When the plate has been completely received by the member 12, its rear edge passing beyond the trigger will permit the latter to fly back to its initial position under the impulse of the spring 102, the elasticity of which will effect a reciprocation of the rod 97 sufficiently violent to cause the end 100 of the arm 99 to strike a sharp blow upon the switch-arm 86, thereby shifting said arm from the contact 84 to the contact 85 of the primary switch. The effect of this is to change the circuit for the purpose of effecting the automatic elevation of the plate receiving members or tongs, as will presently appear. It should be noted, however, that the retractile movement of the switch-throwing device under the impulse of the spring 102 carries the arm 99 beyond its normal position. It is this excess of movement which is utilized in the throwing of the switch-arm, the recovery of the spring 102 after its violent expansion serving to restore the arm 99 to its normal or initial position. (Shown in Fig. 3.)

The shifting of the switch-arm 86 in the opposite direction-that is to say, from the contact 85 to the contact 84-is effected by means of a similar device, which, however, instead of being disposed for actuation by a plate passing through the lower pass of the mill is disposed to be operated by a 'plate being passed back through the upper pass of the mill from the rear plate-receiving member 12 to the frbnt member 11. This second device includes a pivoted trip or trigger 103, mounted in a suitable bearing-bracket 104 and having its lower end disposed immediately in front of When the IOO IIO

IOy

'reame the upper pass of the mill. (See Fig. 4.) To the upper end of the trip 103 is connected the rear end of a reciprocatory switch-throwing rod 105, guided in suitable bearings 106 and having its front end bent at an angle and extended into operative relation with the switch-arm 86, as shown in Fig. 4. The rod 105, like the rod 97, is provided with a retracting-spring 107, interposed between a bearing 106 and a set-collar 108 on the rod. A plate passing through the upperpass of the mill will strike the lower end of the trip 103,

swinging the latter against the resistance of.

the spring 104. The trip will be held in this position until the plate has been completely received by the plate-receiving member 11, at which time the rear end of the plate having passed the trip the latter willbe released and the spring 107 will effect the violent retraction of the rod 105 to throw the switch-arm 86 from the contact 85 to the contact 84.

We have now seen that the primaryT switch is operated by plate-controlled means and that the secondary switches are operated by moving elements of the machine, and it may be emphasized at this point that it is immaterial what machine element or elements are utilized to eifect the movement of the switch-arms 91 and 92, since the transfer of these arms to the Vseveral contact plates of the secondary switches when the tongs have reached predetermined positions might be eifected in a varietyof ways.

l shall now proceed to describe the electrical connections by means of which the roller and tongs operating mechanisms are called into action at the proper times to moye the tongs and rollers in the proper directions by the throwing in or out of the proper clutches. In Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 the wiring has been illustrated in diagram and is lsubstantially as follows: Line-wires a and b are connected to the wiring of the machine by means of a lineswitch fr, whose binding-posts are indicated by c and `From the binding-post a of the switch x is led a wire 0,*which after being paralleled to feed one or more lamps y, preferably mounted on the machine, is led to the switch-arm 86 of the primary switch 80. From the contact 84 of the switch 80 a wire CZ is led to the switch-arm 92 of the secondary switch 82, and from the contact 85 of the primary switch a wire e is led to the arm 91 of the secondary switch 81. From the short contact-plate 90 of the switch 82 a wire f is led to one brush of the roller-clutch 58, from the other brush of which a wire g is led to the binding-post of the line-switch. From the short contact-plate 89 of the switch 81 a wire z, is led to one brush of the rollerclutch 59, from the other brush of which a wired is led to the binding-post 5. One brush of the machine-clutch 45 is -wired to the long contact-plate 87 of the switch 81 by a wire k,

'and the other brush thereof is connected to the post by a wire Z. n a similar manner the machine-clutch 46 is wiredY to .the longl contact-plate 88 of the switch 82 by a wire m and to the binding-post In' by a wire n.

The operation of the machine constructed and arranged as described is as follows: As-

suming the parts to be in the positions shown in Fig. 3, a circuit is established (see Fig. 8)

from the line-wire a to .the wire c, thence through the switch-arm 86 to the contact 84 of the primary switch, thence through the wire Z to the switch-arm 92 of the secondary' switch 82, thence to the short contact-plate 90 of said switch, wire f, roller-clutch 58, wire g, to binding-post t', and then to line-wire 5.

This circuit will energize the magnet of the clutch 58 to effect the engagement of said clutch with the roller-operating shaft 53. The

shaft 53 being thus geared to the motor-shaftl 37 will be operated to rotate the feed-rollers of both plate-receiving members in thedirec.-

tion indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. If now a plate is fed into the front end of the plate-receiving member 11,it will be carried toward the mill-rolls and through the lower pass of themill to the rear plate-receiving member 12, the feedrollers of which will assist in the transfer of the plate. As the front end of the plate advances beyond the lower pass of 'the mill it will strike the upper end of the trigger 95, moving the latter to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 against the resistance opposed to such movement by the spring 102, the rod 97 being shifted longitudinally, as shown. Vhile the plate is passing into the member 12, the trigger will'be held in this position; but as soon as the plate has been completely received by the member its rear end will pass beyond said trigger, permitting the latter to fly back somewhat beyond its normal position, and under the impulse of the spring effect a connection between the roller-operating shaft 53 and the motor-shaft 37 to drive the feed-rollers in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. The plate will thus be returned from the member 12 through the upper pass of the mill to the member 11, its front edge contacting with the trigger or trip 103 and swinging the latter to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. This movement of the trip will draw back the rod 105 against the resistance ofthe spring 107, and the parts will 'be maintained in such positions until the plate has been completely received by the platereceiving member 11. At such time the trip 103, being released by the passage of the plate from beyond the same, will fly back, and the end of the rod 105 will strike the arm 86 to shift the latter from the contact 85 to the contact 84 of the primary switch. This shifting of the primary-switch arm will establish l a circuit through the secondary switch 82 and the machine-clutch 46, as follows, (see Fig. 11:) line-wire a, wire c, switch-arm 86, contact 84, wire UZ, switch-arm 92, long cony rolled plate from the machine.

tact-plate 88, wire m, machine-clutch 46, and wire n to binding-post b and line-wire b. It should be noted at this point that during the ascent of the tongs the arm 91 of the switch 81 is moved from left to right, and therefore finally contacts with the short contact 89 just as the tongs reach their elevated positions. Simultaneously with this movement of the arm 91 the arm 92 of the switch 82 is moving from right to left, the switch 82 being, however, in an open circuit. For this reason it is possible to cut out the roller-clutch 59 and to cut in the machine-clutch 46 when the plate has been completely received by the member 11 in the manner stated. The closing of the circuit last traced will energize the magnet of the machine-clutch 46, engaging the latter with the shaft 30 to effect proper rotation of the worms to lower the tongs to their initial positions at opposite sides ofthe lower pass ofthe mill. During the descent of the tongs the arm 92 of the secondary switch 82 will travel in contact with the long plate 88, and as the tongs reach their completely-depressed positions the arm will leave said plate, thus cutting out the machine-clutch 45 and stopping the tongs, and will contact with the plate 90, closing the circuit rst traced through the roller-clutch 58 to again start the rollers for the purpose of effecting a repetition of 'the described operation. The plate will be automatically passed and repassed through the mill until it has been rolled to standard dimensions, at which time the front end of the plate being fed to the member 12 will automatically operate a device which will prevent the throwing of the primary-switch arm upon the release of the trigger 95, and the feed-rollers will therefore continue to rotate in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 3 to automatically deliver the properly- At the rear end of the machine is located a standard 109, at the upper end of which is pivoted a lever 110, having its upper extremity disposed in the path of a plate supported by the plate-receiving member 12 and having its lower end disposed to be moved into an obstructing position with respect to the rod 97. When a plate of sufficient lengthis passed to the member 12, its front end will strike the lever 110 before its rear end passes from over the trigger 95. The lever 110 will thus be swung to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and will be held in this position during the passage of the plate thereover. When the rear end of the plate passes the trigger 95, the latter will not be permitted to iiy back in the manner heretofore described, because the lever 110 will hold the rod 97 against movement. rlhe tongs will therefore remain in their depressed positions and the feed-rollers will continue to pass the plate back to the right until it is completely delivered from the machine, at which time the lever 110 will be released. To prevent the rod 97 from flying back, and thus throwing the primary-switch arm when the lever 110 is released by the discharged plate, said lever is provided with a frictional bearing, which while permitting the lever 110 to swing slowly back to its initial position under the impulse of the spring 102 will not permit that sudden retraction of the parts essential to the throwing of the primary-switch arm. Therefore after a plate has been delivered the parts will be restored to their initial positions, (indicated in full lines in Fig. 3,) and the machine will be ready for the handling of another plate, which may or may not be fed into the member 11 while a finished plate is being discharged from the member 12.

In addition to the various mechanisms the construction and operation of which have been described I prefer to equip the machine with means for maintaining the plate of other billet in its true position. Itis well understood by those skilled in the art that the plate in passing between the mill-rolls will deviate more or less from a straight line. This movement is but slight during each passage of the plate, but is exceedingly objectionable when the deflection is multiplied by the passing and repassing of the plate through the mill. The truing device, which constitutes a part of the present invention, is therefore designed to automatically correct the position of the plate, first, by properly guiding it when initially passing into the rst and second members of the machine, and, second, by shifting it bodily into proper alinement while being transferred from one pass of the mill to another. The truing device (duplicate structures being provided for each of the plate-receiving members) comprises two rows of truing-fingers 111 and 112, disposed adjacent to the opposite sides of the tongs and projecting upwardly between the rollers thereof to present their upper ends into position to engage the opposite side edges of a plate supported by the rollers. The corresponding fingers at opposite sides of the member are paired and are slidably mounted upon transverse finger-supporting bars 113, disposed below the spaces intermediate of the feed-rollers and preferably secured in the opposite sides of the lower tong member. Disposed longitudinally of said member, and preferably at or about the .middle thereof, is a finger-operating rockshaft 114, journaled in suitable bearings 115 and provided with a series of cross-arms 116, corresponding in number to the pairs of iingers employed. The opposite ends of each cross-arm 116 are connected by links 117 and 118 to the lower ends of the truing-fingers 111 and 112 at opposite sides of the tongs. It will therefore appear that by rocking the shaft 114 in one direction or the other the truingfingers may be urged toward each other or spread wider apart, as the case may be.

Assuming that a plate fed to the plate-receiving member is not exactly alined, it is evi- IOO IIO

dent that by rocking the shaft the truing-fingers may be urged toward each other to eng Ue the opposite sides of the plate for the purpose of shifting it bodily `to correct its position. might of course be effected manually; but since the primary object of the invention is to secure a completely-automatic machine I have devised automatic operating mechanism for bringing the truing device into action at the proper time without attention on the part of an operator. The specific construction of this mechanism might be varied within wide limits; but one form thereof is shown in the drawings and comprehends a pair of arms 119 and 120, extending from the rock-shaft 1111 and connected to mechanisms for imparting opposite movements to the shaft. The arm 119 depends from the shaft, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and is connected to one end of a spring 121, the opposite end of which is secured to the right-hand side wall of the lower tongs member. This spring exerts a constant tendency to rock the shaft in a direction to expand or spread apart the truing-ingers at opposite sides of the machine. The other arm 120 extends horizontally from the shaft, and from it is suspended a weight 122, which when not otherwise supported will rock the shaft to urge the truing-fingers toward each other against the resistance opposed to such movement by the spring 121. The spring and weight will therefore be seen to constitute counteractive devices of different power.

Suitable means for determining the minimum separation of the fingers is provided and may be in the form of a gage-collar 123, adjustably mounted on one of the finger-supporting arms 113 and retained by a set-screw 124. This collar will act as a stop, limiting the inward movement of one of the fingers, and since alliof the ingers are connected a single stop will suiiice to fix their positions. Before the plate or billet is first passed into the machine the gage 123 of the member 11 is adjusted so that the fingers will just receive the plate or billet between them, and the gage of the rear member 12 is adjusted to effect a slightly greater'separation of the rear set of truing-fingers to permit the reception of the plate, which is slightly widened by the first rolling operation, it being noted that in the initial positions of the two platereceiving members their rear ends are elevated and that the weights 122 are suspended from the arms 120,which extend from the shafts 114 at points beyond the fulcrums or axes of movement of the tongs.

When a plate has been passed through the lower pass of the mill from the member 11 to the member 12, it is desired to automatically effect a separation of the truing-fingers of both members, so that if in passing through. the upper pass of the mill said plate should swerve slightly to one side or the other it will not This operation of the truing device' strike the fingers of the member 11, but will pass between them. I therefore provide platforms or rests 125, secured to the frames 7 and 8 below the weights 122 to receive said weights as the latter are lowered by the upward swinging of the inner ends ofthe tongs. During the elevation of the tongs to transfer the plate to the upper pass of the mill the weights drop upon and are supported by the rests 125, and the power exerted thereby being thus withdrawn from the shafts 1111 the springs 121 will rock the shafts to spread the truing-iingers apart. The reception of the plate between the fingers of the member 11 from the upper pass of the mill will thus be insured, and as the tongs descend the elevation of the rear ends of the shafts 114 will cause the weights 122 to be lifted from their rests and to swing the shafts againstthe resistance of the springs y able I wish to be distinctly understood as reserving to myself the right to effect such changes, modications, and variations of the illustrated structure as may be fairly embraced within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim is- Y 1. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, of operating means for the member, a pair of electromagnetic machine-clutches each of which controls the movement of the member in one direction only, separate circuits for the clutches, secondary switches each of which is included in one of said circuits, a primary switch common to both circuits, and means for automatically operating the secondary switches.

2. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, of operating means for the member, 4a pair of electromagnetic machine-clutches each of which controls the movement of the member in one direction only, separate circuits for the clutches, secondary switches each of which is included in one of said circuits, a primary switch common to both circuits, and automatic operating means for both the secondary and primary switches.

3. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, of operating IOO lIZO

means for the member, a pair of-electromag netic machine-clutches each of which controls the movement of the member in one direction only, separate circuits for the clutches, secondary switches cach of which is included in one of said circuits, a primary switch common to both circuits, means for automatically operating the secondary switches, and platecontrolled operating means for the primary switch.

4. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, of operating means for the member, a pair of electromagnetic machine-clutches each of which controls the movement of the member in one direction only, separate circuits for the clutches, secondary switches each of which is included in one of said circuits, a primary switch common to both circuits, and means for operating the secondary switches from moving elements of the machine.

5. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving' member movable between the passes of a mill, a shaft for operating the member, means for rotating the shaft, and electrical controlling mechanism controlling the connection between the shaft and the operating' mechanism and including a switch the arm of which is movable with the shaft.

6. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, of an eccentricshaft for operating the member, a machineshaft geared to the eccentric-shaft, operating mechanism for the machine-shaft, electrical controlling mechanism controlling the connection between the operating mechanism and the machine-shaft, and a switch included in the controlling mechanism and comprising a contact-plate and a switch-arm movable with the eccentric-shaft and contacting' with said plate.

7. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receivingmember movable between the passes of a mill, a series of feedrollers carried by the member, and operating means for the member and rollers, of separate roller-clutches controlling the rotation of the rollers in opposite directions, separate machine-clutches controlling the movement of the plate-receiving member in opposite directions, and means for simultaneously operating a machine-clutch and a roller-clutch to stop the rollers and start the member.

8. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, a series of feedrollers carried by the member, and operating means for the member and rollers, of separate roller-clutches controlling the rotation of theand start the member, and means for simultaneously operating the other roller-clutch and the other machine-clutch to stop the rollers and start the member in the reverse direction. 9. In a plate-handling' machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, a series of feedrollers carriedby the member, and operating mechanism for the member and rollers, of separate electromagnetic roller-clutches controlling the operation of the rollers in opposite directions, separate electromagnetic machineclutches controlling the movement of the platereceiving member in opposite directions, a pair of secondary switches each of which controls the circuit through a roller-clutch and a separate circuit through a machin e-clutch, and a primaryswitch for cutting either of the secondary switches out of circuit.

l0. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, a series of feedrollers carried by the member, and operating mechanism for the member and rollers,of separate electromagnetic roller-clutches controlling' the operation of the rollers in opposite directions, separate electromagnetic machineclutches controlling the movement of the platereceiving member in opposite directions, a pair of secondary switches each of which controls the circuit through a roller-clutch and a separate circuit through a machine-clutch, a primary switch for cutting either of the secondary switches out of circuit, and automatic operating mechanism for the secondary switches.

1l. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, a series of feedrollers carried by the member, and operating' mechanism for the member and rollers, of separate electromagnetic roller-clutches controlling the operation of the rollers in opposite directions, separate electromagnetic machineclutches controlling the movement of the platereceiving member in opposite directions, a pair of secondary switches each of which controls the circuit through aroller-clutch and a separate circuit through a machine-clutch, a primary switch for cutting' either of the secondary switches out of circuit, and automatic switch-operating mechanism for the primary and secondary switches.

l2. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, a series of feedrollers carried by the member, and operating mechanism for the member and rollers, of separate electromag'netic roller-clutches controlling the operation of the rollers in opposite directions, separate electromagnetic machineclutches controlling the movement of the platereceiving member in opposite directions, a pair of secondary switches each of which controls the circuit through a roller-clutch and a sepa- IOO IIO

rate circuit through a machine-clutch, a primary switch for cutting either of the secondary switches out of circuit, and plate-controlled means for ope-rating the primary switch.

13. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with aplate-receivingmember movable between the passes oi' a mill, a series of feedrollers carried by the member, and operating.

mechanism for the member and rollers, of separate electromagnetic roller-clutches controlling the operation of the rollers in opposite directions, separate electromagnetic machineclutches controlling the movement oi the platereceiving member in opposite directions, a pair or' secondary switches each of which controls the circuit through a roller-clutch and al separate circuit through a machine-clutch, a primary switch for cutting either of the secondary switches out of circuit, means for simul- A taneously operating the secondary switches from moving elements of the machine, and plate-controlled means for operating the primary switch.

14. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, a series of feedrollers carried by the member, and operating mechanism for the member and rollers, oi' separate electromagnetic roller-clutches controlling the operation of the rollers in opposite direction, separate electromagnetic machineclutches controlling the movement of the plate-receiving member in opposite directions, a pair of secondary switches each of which controls the circuit through a roller-clutch and a separate circuit through a machine-clutch,

a primary switch for cutting either of the secondary switches out of circuit, means for simultaneously operating the secondary switches from moving elements of the machine, and separate plate-controlled devices for operating the primary switch in different 'positions of the plate-receiving member.

15. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a pair oi' plate-receiving members located at opposite sides of a stand of millrollsu and movable between the passes of the mill, of operating mechanism common to both members, and electrical controlling mechanism controlling the connection between the members and their operating mechanism and including a switch and automatic operating means for said switch. l

16. In a plate-handlin g machine, the combination with a pair of plate-receiving members located at opposite sides of a stand of millrolls and movable between the passes of the mill, oi' operating mechanism common to both members, and electrical controlling mechanism controlling the connection between the members and their operating mechanism and including a switch and plate-controlled operating means for said switch.

17. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a pair of plate-receiving members arranged to be located at opposite sides of a stand of mill-rolls and movable between the passes of the mill, of operating mechanism common to both members, and electrical controlling mechanism controlling the connection between the members and their. operating mechanism and including a switch and separate platecontrolled devices for operating said switch in different positions of the members.

18. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a pair of plate-receiving members, and operating-shafts therefor, of a single machine-shaft geared to both of said operatingsha'fts, and automatically-operated means for effecting the rotation of the machine-shaft in either direction.

i9. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a pair of plate-receiving members at opposite sides of a stand of mill-rolls and movable between the passes of the mill, of a roller-operating shaft common to both series of rollers, a machine-shaft ,common t0 both plate-receiving members, means for operating said shafts, and electrical controlling mechanism including a pair of machine-clutches, a pair of roller-clutches and means Jfor automatically operating said clutches in the proper order to effect the stopping of the rollers and the starting of the members in one direction to transfer the plate to a mill-pass; to stop the members and start the rollers in the reverse direction for the purpose of eiecting the repassing of the plate from one member to the other; to stop the rollers and start the members in the reverse direction for the purpose of transferring the plate to the initial pass of themill; and to stop the members and start the rollers when such pass has been reached.

IOO

20. In a plate-handling machine, the combif nation with a plate-receiving member provided witli a series of feed-rollers, of a truing device including truing-ngers extended between the rollers to engage the opposite edges of a plate and means for moving the fingers to shift the plate to its proper position.

21. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, oi' a vertical truing device including truing-ingers movable transversely of the member and means for automatically moving the iingers into engagement with the plate to shift the same during the movement of the member.

22. In a plate-handling machine, the combination witha plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill and provided with a series of feed-rollers, of atruing device comprising two series of alined truing-ngers extending between the feed-rollers for engagement with the opposite side edges of the plate, and automatic means for causing the two series to approach each other for the purpose ITO of shifting a plate previously received by the member to its proper position thereon.

23. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, of a truing device comprising two series of truing-ngers arranged to engage the opposite edges of a plate, a rock-shaft connected to the lingers of both series to cause their approach and recession and means for operating the rock-shaft to cause the approach of the fingers during the movement of the member in one direction and to cause the recession of the lingers' during the movement of the member in the opposite direction.

24. In a plate-handling machine, the combination with a plate-receiving member movable between the passes of a mill, of a truing device comprising two series of alined truinglingers, a rock-shaft connected to both series of fingers, a spring for urging the rook-shaft in one direction, a weight for urging the rockshaft in the opposite direction, said weight being of suficient power to overcome the spring, and means for supporting the weight in one position of the member to permit the actuation of the rock-shaft under the impulse of the spring.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND MILES.

Witnesses:

IRA H. WATSON, B. R. MITCHELL. 

